Bathroom Update

Our guest bathroom isn't the biggest bathroom in the world, but it's functional and has had a bit more botox since we last checked in on progress, here.  Not a full facelift, but definitely some botox.

This is a look at the before, floral shower curtain and all.

The view from the door (a window covering is high on the 2013 "to do" list).  We quickly painted over the orange and changed out the shower curtain for a white waffle.

We were lucky that the vanity was already white, so we just had to change out the hardware.

We took down the builder basic, no frame, mirror and added a new light fixture.  All quick easy fixes that make the space look much more modern.

A closer look at the new light fixture from Lowes.  The mirror is a dark grey (it looks a bit brown in this pic) from TJ Maxx.

The hubby has been holding on to this Pearl Jam pic since 2006, so it was time to frame it up:

 And a nice Ikea Grundtal towel bar to finish the look:

Kate

xxx 

 

I'm a candle

In the Christmas clearance shop-a-thon, I picked up this little candle from HomeGoods.

It was just a couple of dollars and smells amazing.  The only thing was the ugly festive pine cone pic on the front.  Luckily it was just a sticker that I could peel off easily (easier than the price ticket was to peel off - thanks HomeGoods, a little less sticky goop next time please!).

But when the sticker was gone the candle was very plane and in desperate need of something to jazz it up a bit.

I looked around Michaels for some sort of decal.  I thought about a simple monogram or maybe a boarder around the top and bottom, but settled on some basic alphabet stickers.  I wasn't sure what I was going to spell out but really liked the font:

Now for what to put on the candle.  Hmmm, I got nothing!  Seriously, for about an hour the best we could come up with was "I'm a candle", but then the puns slowly started coming, and we couldn't stop.  Light my fire, get fired up, light up, fire starter, see the light, lights out, great balls of fire.  Ok, so we drew the line at great balls of fire, and opted for "Got a Light?" 

 

We have a lot of storms and power cuts in the south, so this will definitely come in handy.

 

Kate

xxx

 

See other Crafty projects HERE

 

2013 To Do List

Who doesn't love a good old to do list.  It's hard to believe that we moved in only nine months ago,
but progress has undoubtedly slowed with holidays and Murphy and just life in general.

As we move into 2013 it's all hands on deck.  This new year has got me feeling optimistic, so lets ride the wave of confidence before reality inevitably comes crashing down around me.

Our to do list is split up into 3 main categories: Got the Goods, Starting from scratch and You're out of your mind.

Got the Goods - we have all the supplies to hand, we just need to get on with it.

Starting from scratch - just a few of the ideas I have buzzing round that I hope to accomplish this year.

You're out of your mind - if we had buckets of money, endless time and the expertise and resources of HGTV.  Clearly, I have none of these, but a girl can dream.

                                                                                         Calendar from RestyleShop                      

Got the Goods

*  hang storage pots in the kitchen
*  hang gallery/photo wall in the hallway
*  seal bottom of front door
*  hang art in tall landing area
*  hang curtains in guest room
*  hang shelf in guest room
*  replace picture in master

Hmmm, it would appear I have developed an aversion to hanging anything - will need to grab my hammer and nails and start making some holes in these walls.

Starting from Scratch

*  paint and furnish man cave
*  pick fabric and make kitchen blinds
*  add shelving and storage to pantry
*  paint stripes in hallway
*  add etched "hello" to door glass
*  find and refurb rockers for front porch
*  laundry room makeover
*  make/source blind for guest bath
*  half bath makeover
*  paint beige room
*  find master nightstands
*  add shelving to master bedroom
*  introduce desk area to living room
*  revamp coat closet
*  replace fan in guest room
*  replace doors to laundry room

You're out of your mind

*  paint stairwell and landing - we don't have a ladder tall enough (or any ladder for that matter!) to reach the highest point.  So unless we develop Spiderman like climbing skills, this may be out of the question.
*  garage sale - I have been banging on about having a garage sale for months, so hopefully 2013 will be the year it actually happens.
*  master bath reno - this would require a lot of money.  So do we change what we can now with a major budget or live with it and save the money to do it right further down the line. 
*  add new counter top to island - I would love quartz in the kitchen.
*  pendent light to kitchen - with zero electrical skills we'll be calling in the experts for this one.
*  replace garage doors - a big ticket item.
*  landscape garden - low on the list if priorities, maybe we should apply to Curb Appeal!

Wow - it's funny to see how all of the big budget updates ended up in the "You're out of your mind" category!!

If we get just half of this done I'll be happy and I'll be documenting all of the progress right here so you can follow along with the inevitable chaos!

Kate

xxx

Velvet spool

Anthropologie had the sweetest little spools wrapped in velvet, but they were expensive!  I want to say they were $12 - i gasped and put them back on the shelf so quickly I'm not 100% on the price. 

A couple of weeks later I saw the exact same ones in TJ Maxx, and decided to splash out the $5.  That's still a ridiculous price for a spool and bit of velvet but they were just so bright and cheerful I couldn't resist.

The only thing better that one velvet spool is TWO velvet spools!!  I already had a spool from one of my many thrift store visits.  I picked up some velvet ribbon from Michaels, wound it round and pinned it.

Ta-da:

Kate

xxx

See more crafty ideas HERE

 

Clear Off!!

Most people have (at least) one junk drawer.  In my case I don't have drawers, I have bags.  Bags and bags of goodness knows what.  Overflowing with papers and magazines and receipts and items to donate and string and pens and craft projects and wires.  Surely I'm not the only one........??

Now that the DIY desk is in full swing, I refuse to fill it with junk we will never need or use.  With a fresh new year comes a fresh new attitude (we'll see how long that lasts!), so it's the perfect time to get organised.

I'm aiming for a couple of bags a night with 4 main piles: keep, shred, rubbish, donate.

I will be methodical.

I will be ruthless.

I will not get distracted by sudoko puzzles or old photos or Pottery Barn catalogues.

Kate (aka "the bag lady")

xxx

Stag don't

Christmas sales in the UK are huge.  Most of them kick off on boxing day (the day after Christmas - also a national holiday.  Take note America - would it hurt to give us 2 days off for Christmas!).

It's like the UK equivalent of Black Friday.  So after Christmas I was prepped and ready to head out and grab the post Christmas bargains.  It's in my genes!

First stop was Target and their huge sale where I went straight to the home section and picked up a pillow, napkins, bowl, coasters and stag candle holder.  I always avoid the gift wrap and bags - there was a tonne left so I'm sure they will still be around when Target goes to 90% off.

Next up was Michaels where I scored some icicle house lights.  Everywhere else had just blue left, so I was pleased to find the white after rummaging through an entire shelf.  Plus a couple of boxes of glass baubles for next years tree.

I picked up the pink mercury glass pendents (in the pic above) from Walmart.  I'm thinking of turning them into this:

Pinterest.com

I got home and began to lay out all my bargains.  I still couldn't believe the stag from Target was still there.  And it had all it's antlers intact.  But it does look a little bit weird, I thought.  Oh wait, it's because it's missing an ear!

In my hurry to inspect the antlers I completely overlooked the fact that it is missing an ear.  An EAR people!!  What an idiot!


So now I'm left with 4 choices:

1 - leave it as it is.  It's unique and artistic, the Van Gogh of stags (plus, if I leave it at an angle you won't notice).
2 - snap it's other ear off - ouch!
3 - try and fashion an ear out of something (never going to happen).
4 - return it

Oh, the perils of clearance shopping!

 

Kate

xxx

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

When all's said and done, sometimes it's best to just lie down and take a nap :-)

 

Kate (& Murphy)

xxx